Two soldiers killed during military operation in Pakistan's northwest: Army

"Two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel, have been killed during a military operation when a fighter driving an explosive-laden motorcycle rammed a security convoy vehicle in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province near the border with Afghanistan, according to the country's army. The deadly clash took place on Saturday in KP's Bannu district, with the Pakistani military saying at least five armed fighters, including one it described as a suicide bomber were also killed during the operation."

"The military said that the bomber was stopped by the leading security team, preventing his attempt to attack civilians and law enforcement personnel and averting a major catastrophe. The army referred to the fighters as khawarij the term it uses for banned groups, including the Pakistan Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban administration in Kabul of providing refuge to the TTP, a banned Pakistani group separate from but linked to the Afghan Taliban,"

"The two countries had previously clashed in a brief border conflict in October last year. Pakistan will not exercise any restrain and operations would continue against the perpetrators of this heinous and cowardly act for justified retribution against khwarij, irrespective of their location, the statement said. Such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further reinforce our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our nation at all costs, it said."

An explosive-laden motorcycle rammed a security convoy vehicle in Bannu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, near the Afghanistan border, killing two soldiers including a lieutenant colonel. Pakistani forces killed at least five armed fighters, including one described as a suicide bomber, during the operation. The military said the bomber was intercepted by the lead security team, preventing an attack on civilians and law enforcement. The army labeled the fighters khawarij, a term used for banned groups including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad accuses the Taliban administration in Kabul of sheltering the TTP, allegations Kabul denies. Pakistan vowed continued operations against perpetrators irrespective of location.

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